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The fourth Hong Kong - Guangdong Cleaner Production Partners Recognition Scheme presentation ceremony was jointly held by Hong Kong's Environment Bureau (ENB) and the Economic and Information Commission of Guangdong Province (GDEIC) in Guangzhou today (November 20). At the ceremony 136 enterprises were commended as Hong Kong - Guangdong Cleaner Production Partners, comprising 109 Hong Kong-owned manufacturing enterprises, three sourcing enterprises and 24 environmental technology service providers.
Officiating at the presentation ceremony, the Under Secretary for the Environment, Ms Christine Loh, said the Cleaner Production Partnership Programme has been well received by the industries. So far, more than 2,000 funding applications have been approved and about 27,000 people from enterprises in Guangdong and Hong Kong have participated in various awareness promotion activities, surpassing the initial targets set for the Programme.
Ms Loh said, "By implementing cleaner production, enterprises can support realisation of the vision of green development, which emphasises energy saving and environmental protection as set out in the National 12th Five-Year Plan. Indeed, it has been a priority area for Hong Kong-Guangdong regional environmental collaboration to encourage and facilitate enterprises in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region to adopt cleaner production.
"The Government plans to extend the Programme for another two years. This will tie in with the work of promoting energy efficiency and reducing emissions as stated in the National 12th Five-Year Plan, and further reduce the emission of air pollutants in the PRD region."
Also attending the ceremony today were the Vice Governor for the People's Government of Guangdong Province, Mr Liu Zhigeng, and the Counsel of the GDEIC, Ms Bi Zhijian. About 400 representatives from government, trades and industries in both Hong Kong and Guangdong were also present.
Under the Programme, the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), in conjunction with environmental technology service providers in Hong Kong and Guangdong, offers professional advice and technical support to Hong Kong-owned factories in the PRD region to encourage and assist them in adopting cleaner production technologies and practices. By reducing emissions and enhancing energy efficiency, participating factories can contribute to improving regional air quality. The Programme was launched in April 2008 and its coverage was widened in early 2010 to include the provision of professional advice and technical support to factories in the treatment and reduction of effluent discharges.
To further promote cleaner production, the ENB and the GDEIC launched the Hong Kong - Guangdong Cleaner Production Partners Recognition Scheme in August 2009 to commend enterprises that pursue and promote cleaner production. Fifty-one enterprises received commendation in 2009, while 115 and 139 enterprises were commended in 2010 and 2011 respectively. The Scheme has three categories. "Hong Kong - Guangdong Cleaner Production Partners (Manufacturing)" recognises Hong Kong-owned factories that have achieved good results in cleaner production, and encourages them to sustain their efforts. Sourcing enterprises which have actively encouraged their Hong Kong-owned factory suppliers to adopt cleaner production are recognised under "Hong Kong - Guangdong Cleaner Production Partners (Supply Chain)". Lastly, environmental technology service providers which have made commendable efforts in promoting the Programme and providing good services to Programme participants are recognised as "Hong Kong - Guangdong Cleaner Production Partners (Technology Service)". More details of the Programme and the Hong Kong - Guangdong Cleaner Production Partners Recognition Scheme are available on the HKPC's cleaner production website: www.cleanerproduction.hk/en_index.asp.
Ends/Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Issued at HKT 14:41
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